Is There a Magic Pill for Stopping Skin Cancer? Study Says Yes

Here's some fab news for pale people: Taking a vitamin B supplement lowered people's risk of skin cancer in a new study from the Dermatology University of Sydney in Australia. Participants took a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide. Two pills a day reduced the incidence of new, non-melanoma skin cancers in people who'd already had the cancers by 23 percent. The supplement slashed the risk for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas; considering that about half of us who live to 65 will develop one of these, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, this is a big deal. Big. It's the first evidence that simply taking a vitamin can help prevent the disease (though researchers warn that the supplement should be used along with your regular daily sunscreen). Study authors say the general population doesn't necessarily need to begin popping the pill, but it could be a cheap, super-effective means of prevention for people who are at high risk of the disease. So if you have a history of skin cancer in your family or if you're constantly battling a sunburn, talk to your doctor about whether you need to start taking your vitamins.

Here's some fab news for pale people: Taking a vitamin B supplement lowered people's risk of skin cancer in a new study from the Dermatology University of Sydney in Australia.

Most doctors recommend doing any kind of laser hair removal in the winter because it takes several treatments and you'll need to stay out of the sun for a day or two after each session. But if you really want to do it, "your maximum result comes from your first treatment, so it's not technically too late to get started," says Dr. Schultz. Shaving and waxing, however, are more viable—and much less expensive—options. To avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs, "shave the night before you're in the sun, and shave in multiple directions without pressing the blade too hard against the skin," says Dr. Gross. "Also use a non-irritating product to soothe, protect, and hydrate the skin afterward." We like Shaveworks The Cool Fix ($25, anthony.com).

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Participants took a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide. Two pills a day reduced the incidence of new, non-melanoma skin cancers in people who'd already had the cancers by 23 percent. The supplement slashed the risk for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas; considering that about half of us who live to 65 will develop one of these, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, this is a big deal. Big.

It's the first evidence that simply taking a vitamin can help prevent the disease (though researchers warn that the supplement should be used along with your regular daily sunscreen).

Study authors say the general population doesn't necessarily need to begin popping the pill, but it could be a cheap, super-effective means of prevention for people who are at high risk of the disease. So if you have a history of skin cancer in your family or if you're constantly battling a sunburn, talk to your doctor about whether you need to start taking your vitamins.